I’m Brandon McNutt Tammy Garman

Matthew Slisik Risako Wagner

Dominique Addison Rachel Bloom

Nicole Story Sierra Apple

And we are performing “We Are Military Brats”

There are 1.7 million of us. We’re all over the world.

We understand each other, but no one else really understands us.

We are military brats.

And I’m not kidding. People really don’t get it.

Where are you from?

Well, I was born in North Carolina, but then we moved to Hawaii when I was 2;

My dad just got orders; we’re moving to Japan.

That’s in China, right?

And then we lived in California while my mom was in flight school;

I lived on a military base in Okinawa.

Does everybody there know kung fu?

And right now I live in Korea;

I really like the restaurant near my house.

They have restaurants there? Can you eat anything but rice?

But at least once a year we visit my grandparents, who all live in Colorado;

People don’t know what to make of us.

They don’t know what it’s like. They don’t know who we are.

You’re minding your business when your parent approaches with the news

Deployment

Your mind is overwhelmed with mixed emotions

[happy/proud] I’m thankful you’re fighting for our country

[sad] What if I never see you again?

[angry] Why our family?

Why do you have to be taken from us?

You give your parent a hug and wonder if this is the last

You hear the mortars in the background of a phone call

BANG

You talk for just a few minutes In the middle of the night

because of the time zone difference But finally it ends with

[parent voice] Good bye, I love you.

[child voice] You wonder if this is the last.

Your friends say they’re sorry I understand

This must be hard, huh?

But their moms and dads go to work and come home

You haven’t seen yours in 16 months But life keeps happening

They missed your first steps

First words Soccer games

Play Prom

Graduation

[child voice] You ; [parent voice) I [child voice] Missed ; [parent voice] Missed

[child voice] Out ; [parent voice] You But we’ll be OK

Finally they come home! But it’s not really them

He’s distant Like he’s keeping a secret

A stranger in our family Fighting everyone

You try to joke the way you used to But he’s locked himself away

He says it’s the guilt

Someone came home, but it wasn’t him

Our family is back together Sort of

And we’re Glad Sad Grateful

Struggling Back to normal Whatever that is

We pull ourselves together We figure it out

That’s what we do. That’s who we are.

Wait, you lived in Japan? But you look American!

I AM American. Americans can’t live in Japan!

Seriously?

But my sister goes to college in Washington;

My family is moving to South Korea in 2 months.

[gasp] You’re a Communist? Yes. You’re talking to a Communist.

And we’re moving to either Guam or Florida at the end of this tour,

but we won’t know which until the orders come;

We arrive. Where do I go?

You’re tired. What does that say?

You’re trying to find your way. Excuse me?

You’re trying so hard to fit in. Should I take my shoes off?

How do I say “nice to meet you”?

Which way do I pass the tea?

There’s a way to pass the tea? Yeah; I think?

This door says exit; THAT’S the entrance

Chopsticks in your right hand, not your left

Drive on the left, not on the right

Red lights are just a suggestion Eye contact is rude

AGGH!

Sometimes I just want a normal hamburger!

Finally, orders back to the States!

Home! Except;

The roads are huge! The schools are huge!

You look the wrong way before crossing the street

Look out!

Wait, no National Anthem before the movie?

I forgot to tip the waitress!

Guess we won’t go to THAT restaurant again;

These food portions are enormous!

AGGH!

Sometimes I just want to eat some sushi, pierogis, yakisoba,

kimchi, Spam, curry rice, shrimp-fried rice,

udon, gyoza, ramen.

These kids have known each other since they were 2

Do I have a place here? Is this home?

Before you know it; Time to PCS!

Off to another country

New school, New friends New community, New rules

Here we go go; go; go; go; go; go; go;

We arrive.

Strange school You’ll figure it out.

We always do.

Strange people You’ll get to know them.

We always do.

Strange place You’ll find your way

We always do.

Strange culture, strange rules, strange foods;

You’ll learn, you’ll adjust,

you’ll take it all in and you’ll miss it when you leave

We always do.

So I’m not really from anywhere. Or maybe I’m from everywhere;

Do you speak Asian? Do you live in a hut?

Do you have to catch your own fish?

Do you have to “go” in an outhouse?

NO!

We move a lot But we are well-rounded

We see our parents go off to war But we are proud of their bravery

We leave our friends But we gain new ones

That’s what we do That’s who we are.

We are Military brats.